Australian Open Tennis

[Silock]

I guess updated for 2012?

Americans are all out.

[KC_Connection]

Federer is just a whiz with the racket. It's amazing to watch him play when he's on. Greatest player of all time?

[Simply Red]

Sampras has to be in that conversation. Stefan Edberg never really got his due credit, i truly feel Stefan Edberg is a top 5 all-time.

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Federer is just a whiz with the racket. It's amazing to watch him play when he's on. Greatest player of all time?

I always have a hard time answering questions like that. I can't fairly judge players I haven't seen. I do think its hard to say anyone is or was ever better.

I love the guy. I usually root for underdogs, but I love everything about him. I love his love of the game, the history of it, and how much he knows about his place in it. He is humble but has a minor cocky honesty in him.

[KC_Connection]

The break and the set to Federer. Hard to see Del Potro beating him when he's at this level.

[NJChiefsFan]

Oh, and Fed still gets emotional when he doesn't win in Majors....after he has already won SIXTEEN.

[Simply Red]

Agassi's story is my favorite - he's probably my favorite athelete. He once was a young punk - but finished his career embrassing class - he was very professional and an all out gentleman - his final five or six years.

The sport misses him.

[KC_Connection]

Sampras never won at Roland Garros. That holds him back a bit in my mind.

[Chief_For_Life58]

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

I always have a hard time answering questions like that. I can't fairly judge players I haven't seen. I do think its hard to say anyone is or was ever better.

I love the guy. I usually root for underdogs, but I love everything about him. I love his love of the game, the history of it, and how much he knows about his place in it. He is humble but has a minor cocky honesty in him.

its also really hard to count out the older generation guys who didnt use the advanced rackets that are being used today. think about if rod laver or emerson used the racket djokovic or nadal uses? how good could they be? tough to say in tennis....

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by Simply Red

Agassi's story is my favorite - he's probably my favorite athelete. He once was a young punk - but finished his career embrassing class - he was very professional and an all out gentleman - his final five or six years.

The sport misses him.

I was only old enough to see him in his "veteran/mature" days. His late night matches at the U.S. Open his last 4 years were what locked me into tennis.

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by Chief_For_Life58

its also really hard to count out the older generation guys who didnt use the advanced rackets that are being used today. think about if rod laver or emerson used the racket djokovic or nadal uses? how good could they be? tough to say in tennis....

Yes thats a good point. In any sport that makes it so hard to figure out. Not only was the equipment worse, but working out and staying in shape wasn't as big/advanced years ago. Especially if you are talking about sports like baseball or hockey.

[KC_Connection]

The amount of effort that Agassi gave in his matches during the latter stage of his career was incredible.

[Simply Red]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Federer is just a whiz with the racket. It's amazing to watch him play when he's on. Greatest player of all time?

it's what happens, he's been holding a racquet since age 3, IIRC. I always tell people, if you want the best possibility for your child to reach professional sports, get a racquet in their hand by age 5, if they like it, support them their whole career, and most players that consistently play that long, WILL at least make a ranking and most likely earn some income, possibly even get rich off of it. Best chance is with Tennis. It's like no other sport, honest.

[KC_Connection]

I mean Agassi won this tournament at the age of 32 in 2003 beating out guys like Hewitt and Safin (one of my personal favorites) in the prime of their careers. Federer was also beginning his rise top player at the time as well.

Incredible, really.

[Simply Red]

Stefan Edberg was easily MY favorite player, if any of you catch any of his matches on ESPN classic, or where ever, watch them. He was masterful.

[KC_Connection]

I'm too young to have watched Edberg in his prime, yeah.